“I don’t think so. And you want to know why?”
Fear coursed through her at the look in his eyes. “W-why?”
“Because I’ve got no problem putting a bullet through that man-friend of yours.”
Dora felt the fire leave her at Max’s words. He would hurt Raymond? No! She couldn’t let him do that. She cared for Raymond too much and she couldn’t see him come to harm. She just couldn’t.
“No, please—”
“So, you’ll stop fightin’ me?”
She swallowed. Could she go through with this? It would mean separation from Raymond, but that would also ensure his safety. It was the only way.
“Y-yes. But—you have to promise not to harm Raymond. Do you promise?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“If I go with you to the church you won’t harm him,” she said again.
He nodded, his grip relaxing slightly. “I won’t touch him.”
“Fine,” she said, swallowing down her fear and the devastation that came with her words.
***
Raymond pounded up the steps to the hotel. He was still burning mad from what Dora had said about this Max fellow saying he had a right to marry her. It was completely foolish and he knew it, but he realized Dora wasn’t in a position to see that. How could she?
After they’d talked, he gone to the sheriff first thing. The man had heard his story and then, after asking several questions and taking notes, he pulled out a stack of wanted papers. There, nestled among them, was one for a Max Mills. Wanted for murder.
Raymond’s blood had run cold, but he’d held off going to see her that night. He’d already disturbed her once during her work and he didn’t want to jeopardize her job. At least not yet.
The sheriff had assured him he would scour the town for the man, sure that he was hiding somewhere within the town’s limits, and Raymond had left, feeling accomplished. Now all that was left was to tell Dora how he’d solved the problem and…well, he was going to ask her to marry him.
A grin split his face. Raymond Ellis was going to settle down.
He walked up to the desk and the older man behind it. “Hello, can you tell me what room Dora Sullivan occupies?”
The man narrowed his gaze.
“I don’t mean to go into her room,” Raymond added quickly, “I just wanted to see if she’d like to take a walk.” He was blabbing and felt foolish, but the man’s gaze made him want to fully explain himself.
“She’s gone.”
Raymond’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Saw her dragged off by some tall man not too long ago. Looked like they were heading toward the north end of town.”
Raymond searched his memory. North. What was—the church was that way!
“Thanks,” he called out behind him though he was already leaving.
He took off toward the church but skidded to a stop at the sheriff’s office. After explaining what was going on, the man and his deputy joined him and they raced to the church.
“Hold up now, son,” the older man said, placing a hand on his arm when they stopped in front of the building. “We go in first.”
Raymond wanted to argue—he wanted to get to Dora as soon as possible—but he also realized the sheriff knew exactly what he was doing. He nodded once.
The deputy took the side door and the sheriff the back, with Raymond right behind him. When they burst into the room Raymond’s heart jumped. Dora was at the front of the church with Max standing next to her, a startled preacher in front of them both.
Was he too late?
***
Dora knew with every bone in her body that this was wrong. She didn’t want to marry Max, but she had no choice. But, as they were about to start the ceremony, the doors burst open and men started shouting.
Startled, she and the preacher dropped to the ground leaving Max standing.
“I said put those hands up,” a hard masculine voice said.
From her vantage point on the floor she looked up and saw the defeat on Max’s face. Slowly, he lifted his hands and her hopes soared. She was saved!
He was rushed off by two men and suddenly Raymond was there, his arms encircling her waist and drawing her toward himself.
“W-what happened?” she asked, her voice muffled against his shoulder.
He pulled back far enough to see her. “I found out last night that Max Mills is a wanted man.”
She gasped. If only she’d known!
“I came to see you at the hotel but the manager said you’d left with Max. I got the sheriff and…here I am.”
“I can’t believe it,” she said, tears filling her eyes. “I almost married him—but it was because he said he’d hurt you.”
Raymond laughed. “Well, he’s not going to hurt anyone. Not anymore.”
Dora could hardly believe it. Here she was, only hours after she thought all hope was lost and that she would be married to Max, but instead she was in Raymond’s arms.
“You were coming to see me?” she asked, a coy smile lighting her face.
“Well,” he said, pulling her closer, “I wanted to ask you something.”
“Oh?” she said, her eyebrows arching.
“Yes. It seems that there’s something about Little River that calls to me. Or maybe it’s someone.”
His grin was intoxicating. “What are you saying, Raymond?”
“I’m saying that I think I’m ready to settle down…and I can’t think of a better town—or a more beautiful woman—with which to spend my days.”
She gasped tears in her eyes.
“Dora, would you consider marrying a wandering man like me?”
“Do you mean it?”
“Of course I do,” he said smiling.
“Yes,” she laughed, “Yes! I would like nothing more than to settle down with you.”
He joined her laugher, the sound reverberating through him and causing her to laugh again in response. Then, slowly at first, but leaning in faster, he bent down and she closed her eyes to accept his kiss. His lips pressed into hers and she felt the security of his arms around her.
She had come to Little River to marry without a hope of love, but God had proved to have other plans. Much better plans.
“Let’s settle down together,” he whispered.
Now, looking into Raymond’s eyes, she knew he was part of God’s plan. And what a good plan it was.
THE END.
About the Author
Christian Michael is head of Purely Publishing, a digital publishing company that solely releases clean romance stories.
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[2015] A Love Miracle Page 55
